Oil seal construction



J. H. VICTOR OIL SEAL CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 17, 1939 ENTOR.

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Patented Feb. 25,` 1941 PATENT OFFICE I'L SEAL CONSTRUCTION y John H. Victor, Wilmette, Ill., assigner to "ictor Manufacturing & Gasket Company, Chicago,' Ill., a, corporation of Illinois Application August 117,

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to an oil seal or grease retainer and more particularly to a novel retaining shell for anchoring and securely retaining a sealing element adapted to have a wiping and sealing contact with an encompassing shaft, or with a surrounding or adjoining housing where the shell is mounted upon the shaft, for sealing thespace between'these relatively rotatable parts against the'escape or. passage of oil, grease, or other lubricants, Water and cooling liquids or fluids, and againstthe entrance of dust -and other foreign particles.

In an oil seal or grease retainer of the type disclosed, it is essential that the sealing diaphragm.

be maintained in continuous wiping or sealing contact with the surface to be sealed so as to eiectively prevent leakage or escape of the fluid to be retained, as well as to exclude dust and'other foreign particles. In order toaccomplish this, it is highly essential thatthe diaphragm be securely anchored against any relative movement or displacement with respect to its retaining shell. In the present invention., I-provide the retaining shell with a novel means for locking or anchoring an annular flange of the sealing diaphragm securely within the shell and with the cooperating parts so constructed andarranged as to not only effectively preventjthe passage of oil, grease orother lubricant or fluid thereabout, but also to positively prevent their passage through the in' teren'gaging or contacting portions of .the shell or retainer' construction.

'I'he novel retaining shell comprises an outer and an inner annular section or shell member,

' each substantially L-shaped in cross section and telescoped by a press t, with the irmer' member adapted to receive and clamp a sealing diaphragm between it and anA annular member. or washer,v

and the latter being of spring metal and preferably slightly coned'or bevelled and maintained or anchored in this position by means of a suitable "number of spaced, overlapping prongs or projections bent from the inner channel or shell.

.This novel clamping means secures the sealing diaphragm wholly within the inner section'orshell member -and completely out of contact with the outer section or shell member. This makes for a more eiiicient, permanent and effective retainer for a sealing diaphragm, and regardless of whether such diaphragm is .constructed of a plastic, leather. or other material suitable for the purpose, the, novel washer will permanently retain it with a spring tension compensating for any .possi- In order to eliminate all possibility of leakage 1939, serial No. 29o-,551

(crasse- 3),

through or around the shell or retainer, the present construction provides a double wall on the anchoring edge of the shell or retainer which adds greatly to the strength of-.the seal and permits it to retain its int and dimensions under any and 5 all conditions of service. In the preferred embodiment, the inner shell or channel member is provided with `one or more continuous, circumferential beads or serrations.

By upsetting the metal in this manner, a tight sealing surface is effected between the inner and outer shells so as to prevent any possible leakage. between these members. One or more continuous beads or serrations are also providedl on the radial ange ofthe inner shell or channel member so as to positively seal between -the abutting or contacting faces of the sealing element or diaphragm-and the inner shell member. I

Further obgects, advantages and. capabilities will become apparent from the following description and disclosure 0r are inherent in the device.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in vertical cross section through the' novel seal. C

Fig. .2 is a view, part in side elevation and part 25 in vertical crossA section, taken on the irregular line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing invertical cross section the novel seal and more clearly illustrating the details of 30 Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, in which views are shown 35 an .internal typeV seal adapted t be mounted in or anchored onto a surrounding or adjoining housing by a press fit, with the sealing diaphragm I in wiping contact with a concentric shaft 2 shown in dotted outline. The purpose of the seal 40 is to prevent the passage or escape of oils, lubricants or other fluids, and` to exclude dust and other foreign particles from the spacevbetween the shaft and its surrounding housing. The diaphra'gm may be of any material suitable for the 45 purpose.

The novel seal includes a sectional retainer or retaining shell comprising an outer shell member or retaining section 3, an inner shell member or retaining section 4 adapted to be housed with- 50 in the outer shell section and an annular, slightly bevelled washer or member 5. Each of the retaini. ing sections or shell members is of substantially L shape with the inner section conformably seating within the outer section by a press fit and fiuid- 10 clamped therein by the turned over or spun edge the lateral -rilange I2 of the outer section 3 to therebyseal against possible leakage therebetween. The metal so upset at and II forms a continuous sealing contact adding greatly to the emciency and eiectiveness of the seal in preventing leakage or passage of uids between the elements composing the seal construction.

One side or face of the flange 8 of the sealing4 diaphragm abuts the radial ilange I and the annular washer 5 engages-the opposite side of this anchoring ange 9, thereby securely retaining the diaphragm in its predetermined, ilxed position. locked in position by means of suitably spaced prongs or projections I3 stamped or cut out from the material of the lateral ilange I0 and turned down or bent back or inwardly in the manner shown in Fig. 3. The annular washer 5 is of spring metal and preferably frusto-conical or bevelled inwardly at its inner diameter so as to securely lock and retain thediaphragm in proper position forcontinuous operation. The prongs diaphragm, adjacent its free edge, and is retained against accidental dlslodgment by means of an annular groove or channel I5 and the inwardly' projecting radial flange I B of the outer section.

In Fig. 4 the parts have been reversed so as to provide` an external type seal, with the retainer mounted by means of a. press t upon the shaft/2 and the sealing diaphragm I having a wiping contact with the surrounding housing or adJoin-.

ing structure. The garter spring I'I in/this f orm is expansible while in the internal type seal, the spring I4 is contractile. Otherwise, except for reversal, theparts are similarly constructed and like reference` characters have been applied.

' From the above description and the disclosure in the drawing, it should be apparent that the invention comprehends a novel seal construction This 'washer in turn is retained-on Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A retaining shell for an oil seal diaphragm adapted to seal the space between a rotatable shaft and its adjoining housing, comprising a pair of annular substantially L,.shaped telescopic sections secured together to form a unit assembly of channel-shape having a double-walled portion with the inner wall portion abutting the flange of the other wall portion, said unit being adapted to be mounted by a press-fit in the adjoining housing, and means for mounting'the diaphragm within the inner of saidtelescopic sections and out of any contact with the other section, said means including a radial ange on the diaphragm seating against the flange of the inner section, a washer seating against the radial flange of said diaphragm, and projections on said inner section engaging the washer to --hold the same in seating engagement with the flange. of saiddiaphragm for retaining the diaphragm in anchored' position.

2. In an oil seal or grease retainer adapted to be mounted as an assembled and self-contained wedge 4and lock it against removal or displace-y ment. y

3. In an oil seal or grease retainer including a flexible sealing diaphragm, a retaining shell for securely mounting the', sealing diaphragm and comprising an inner and an outer member interconnected toiorm a unitary assembly, and means for securely mounting the sealing diaphragm in the inner of said members, said means comprising a frusta-conical washer bearing against an anchoring portion of the sealing diaphragm, and

l spaced projections on the inner of said members bearing against said washer for maintaining it in anchored position.

4. In an oil seal construction for sealing the space between apair of ,relatively rotatable members such as a shaft and its adjoining housing, a exible sealing diaphragm adapted to have a wiping contact with one of said members and means .for mountingl said diaphragm upon the assembly, and means for mounting and anchoring the diaphragm in the inner of said sections and comprising the ilange on the inner section against .which the diaphragm seats, a washer abutting the diaphragm and wedging the dia.-

phragm between it andthe last mentionedange, f 6 0 and' projections onsaid inner section and engaging the washer to retain the washer against the diaphragm and prevent removal or displacement thereof.

Joni:l H. VICTOR. 

